Hong Jiaxin's cheeks carried a heroic air, and normally, her pretty face bore no traces of seduction.
But when her cheeks were flushed with red, she exuded a coquettish charm, a temperament that mixed seven parts softness with three parts sunshine, quite pleasing to the eye.
Her eyelashes were long, and when she blinked, it made her eyes seem all the more lively.
"Squad leader, I need to take a phone call," Luo Yang said.
"Like I care, I'm going to beat you up!" Hong Jiaxin playfully scolded.
The phone's ringtone indeed sounded.
But Hong Jiaxin was on a rampage and couldn't care less.
"Squad leader, I really need to take this call," Luo Yang said with a smile.
Seeing that he really was about to answer the phone, she stopped her attack for the moment.
"You're as good as dead anyway! I'll beat you to a pulp later!" Hong Jiaxin scoffed coldly.
At that moment, the phone had already completed one ring cycle, and the second started immediately after.
He took out his phone, and from the caller ID, he knew it was Shi Nan calling.
He thought she was going to ask about the live singing at the bar tonight; he had wanted to discuss it with Zhu Li at noon, but Tan Shengmei had called to invite him for lunch.
After answering the call, Luo Yang asked, "What's up, Sister Nan?"
Shi Nan had a strong Jianghu vibe.
Every time he spoke with her on the phone, Luo Yang would envision a girl wielding dual knives.
"Damn it, why did it take you so long to answer the phone?" Shi Nan asked.
"Sister Nan, I just heard it. What do you need me for?" Luo Yang asked with a smile.
When she sought him out, it was generally not for anything good.
Each call was usually a request for his help.
Having gotten to know her, he felt obliged to assist whenever she asked.
And this time was no different; she needed Luo Yang's help.
After some hemming and hawing on the other end of the line, Shi Nan said, "I was hoping you could help me out. My brother got into some trouble, and some people have chased him right up to our doorstep!"
"Okay, I'll come over right now," Luo Yang agreed readily.
As friends, he couldn't just stand by when she was in trouble.
After he hung up the phone, he remembered Hong Jiaxin was looking to get physical.
Luckily, he knew just how to handle her.
"Squad leader, hear me out, I'll teach you a secret technique. I'll tell you all about it at the martial arts gym later," Luo Yang said earnestly.
Hong Jiaxin paused, as she indeed wanted to learn Luo Yang's secret technique.
She had wanted to learn it for some time already, but Luo Yang had not taught her yet.
She wanted to learn it to use against that collector from Japan.
"What secret technique are you going to teach me?" Hong Jiaxin asked.
Actually, Luo Yang just said that to stabilize her mood on impulse.
Seeing Luo Yang's mischievous smile, Hong Jiaxin playfully scolded, "If you dare deceive me, you're definitely dead!"
"Squad leader, when have I ever dared to deceive you? If I said I would teach you, I will," Luo Yang replied with a laugh.
Secret techniques weren't easy to learn.
Firstly, one's constitution mattered, and secondly, other conditions were important.
For example, some techniques couldn't be learned if one didn't have True Qi in their body.
Luo Yang had already thought up a way to deal with this.
"So what secret technique are you going to teach me?" Hong Jiaxin pressed.
"A type of leg technique, very powerful," Luo Yang said earnestly.
She tentatively believed him.
"Big Sister Qiao, head towards the steel material market," Luo Yang instructed.
"Are you going to buy steel materials?" Qiao Yousi asked curiously.
"No, a friend is in trouble, let's go take a look," Luo Yang explained.
Last night, Qiao Zai Shui had driven Luo Yang to the entrance of the village where Shi Nan lived.
Therefore, Qiao Zai Shui directed the way.
Luo Yang glanced at Hong Jiaxin, and seeing her looking coldly in his direction, he quickly averted his gaze.
They were originally supposed to get off at the entrance to the village, but walking from there was still a bit far.
So Luo Yang told Qiao Yousi to drive into the village and instructed her on the way.
In no time at all, Qiao Yousi drove up to the front of Shi Nan's house.
Outside, several motorcycles were parked, and a few fierce-looking young men loitered around them.